Verbena plant named &#39;KLEVP13441&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by burgundy flowers and a semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Verbena sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEVP13441’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena sp., and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEVP13441’. ‘KLEVP13441’ originated from across-pollination conducted in June 2008 in Sydney, Australia betweenthe proprietary female Verbena variety ‘07.15.35’ (unpatented), and theproprietary male Verbena variety ‘15.79.03’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP13441’ wasselected from the group of plants in October 2008.

In January 2009, ‘KLEVP13441’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative cuttings. ‘KLEVP13441’ was found to reproduce true to type insuccessive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KLEVP13441’ were applied for in Canada onFeb. 8, 2013, Application No. 13-7929. ‘KLEVP13441’ has not been madepublicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Burgundy flowers; and

2. A semi-upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photograph is of a five-month-old plant grown outdoors inStuttgart, Germany in April 2011. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEVP13441’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grownin a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in February 2013. Color referencesare to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.        -   Botanical.—Verbena sp.        -   Common.—Verbena.        -   Designation.—‘KLEVP13441’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary verbena variety ‘07.15.35’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary verbena variety ‘15.79.03’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Semi-upright, well-branching.        -   Height (from top of soil).—25.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—40.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 10 weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 30 days.        -   Root description.—White, normal, smooth roots with an ovate            shape.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—Greater than 6.        -   Growth habit.—Stems growing from the middle.        -   Length.—About 20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—20.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.0 to 4.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 135C.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture and appearance.—Shiny, ovate, and slightly            pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature and mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 135B            Lower surface: RHS 135C.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Leathery.        -   Venation type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—Darker than            RHS 135B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.1 cm Diameter: About 0.1 cm Color:            RHS 135B Texture: Leathery.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 135C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—High, around            one week.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Length of inflorescence.—About 2.0 to 3.0 cm.        -   Diameter of inflorescence.—About 6.0 cm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—About 20.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 61A Length: About 2.0 cm Diameter:            About 0.1 cm.-   Florets:    -   -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 61C.        -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Form.—Single.        -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS 61C            Lower surface: RHS 61D.        -   Corolla tube length.—0.5 cm.        -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 131B.        -   Petals.—Length of lobe: About 1.0 cm Diameter of lobe: 0.5            cm Lobe shape: Reniform Apex: Obtuse Base: Acute Margin:            Sinuate Appearance (both upper and lower surfaces): Shiny.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm Color: RHS 61D            Appearance: Shiny.-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Calyx is composed of more than 10 sepals            arranged in a single row.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Apex.—Obtuse, vase-shaped.        -   Base.—Obtuse, vase-shaped.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Greater than 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143D.        -   Appearance (both upper and lower surfaces).—Leathery.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 Appearance: Shiny Color: RHS 131D            Filament length: About 3.0 cm Filament diameter: About 1.0            cm Anther: Color: RHS 131C Length: About 1.0 cm Diameter:            0.1 cm Pollen amount: None, sterile.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm            Stigma: Color: RHS 143D Appearance: Shiny Length: 0.1 cm            Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Style.—Color: RHS 143D Length: Shiny Diameter: 0.1 cm            Appearance: Shiny.-   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Resistant to mildew

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETIES

‘KLEVP13441’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEVP13441’ ‘07.15.35’ ‘15.79.03’ Growth and Stronggrowth, Strong growth, Compact branching well-branching not as branchinggrowth as ‘KLEVP13441

‘KLEVP13441’ is most similar to the commercial verbena varieties‘Empress Purple’ (patent status unknown) and ‘Vepita Dark Magenta’(patent status unknown). Differences between the three varieties aredescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Varieties ‘Vepita Dark Characteristic‘KLEVP13441’ ‘Empress Purple’ Magenta’ Growth habit Semi-uprightUpright, trailing Flower color Burgundy Lighter than ‘KLEVP13441’

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated‘KLEVP13441’ as shown and described herein.